Caleb Nickerson
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Sept. 21, 2017
On Thursday morning, various stakeholders and local officials met at the MRC office in Campbell’s Bay to discuss a new initiative to support English-speaking caregivers for seniors in the Pontiac.
Connexions Resource Centre, a non-profit community organization that aims to promote health and well-being among the Anglo population in the Outaouais, has received $64,826 to improve resources for local caregivers.
Connexions Executive Director Danielle Lanyi explained that the money had been allocated by L’APPUI Outaouais, a support network for caregivers with branches across the province.
“Seniors have overwhelmingly expressed the desire to remain at home for as long as possible,” she said, explaining that the situation can put an additional burden on family and friends, who often times don’t see themselves as caregivers.
“It’s just something we do,” she said.
It is estimated that there are 25,000 caregivers in the Outaouais region alone, engaging in everything from managing medications, doing household chores and giving rides to appointments.
The new funding will go towards the Pontiac Caring Community Project, which aims to seek out vulnerable and isolated caregivers to offer them a helping hand. Volunteers known as “Beacons” will be trained to identify and refer these people to the services they need.
L’APPUI Outaouais Director General Jena-Yves Lord said that this work, especially when it involves an ailing relative, can be a big stressor.
“It starts very subtly, [caregivers] can easily wear themselves out to the point of burnout,” he said. “Accidents can happen, you can lose your cool.”
Nicole Boucher, coordinator of homecare services for the Centre Intégré de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), said that local Golden Age Clubs, several of whom were represented at the meeting, are key in bridging the gap between vulnerable seniors and healthcare services in the region.
She added that while everyone has a right to refuse help, she encourages caregivers to seek out professional homecare assistance sooner rather than later.
Any caregivers in need of assistance can call L’APPUI’s information hotline at 1-855-852-7784 or dial 811 and select option two.
